re: #382 blueraven

Ludwig, I dont know a lot about the whole situation in the ME, so please dont take this as taking sides one way or the other.

But when you say this is Israels land because G-d gave it to them, that muddies the debate. In the USA we have people who say we are given our rights by G-d not by man or government. We have climate change deniers who say He would never allow the destruction claimed by those who believe in Global warming.We also have groups that use G-d to try to stop the rights of gays, interracial marriage, and so on. G-d given is a matter of faith and I have no doubt that all the groups who use this as fact, believe it.

It is not a truth, however, for all. And to use it so unequivocally seems inconsistent for a man of science and reason, even one who is a true believer.

I actually don’t use that a lot because it does muddy things.

You will note my examples tend to be historical, political and cultural first.

We don’t need to fight this fight.

There is though a second part to this which I should point out.

If you are a Jew, and you do believe the faith, you do believe G-d gave you that land.

For us to say such a thing is a silly and medieval thing… Yet, other faiths… who say similar things… well we have to respect that… My point is about Jews selling themselves short and about others expecting us to just get over our silly faith somewhat one sidedly.

Why can’t the Muslims get over their presumably equally silly faith (if you are being fair) that says the Bais Hamikdash is somehow theirs?